Mechanical toy.



H. G. TAYLOR.

MECHANICAL TOY.

. APPLICATION FILED H1114, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

THE NoRnls PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C

i HUGH G.'TAYLOR, CIF DENVER, COLORADO.

MECHANICAL T OY.

specification of Letters raient. pmentgd NOV, 24C, 1914.

Application filed February 14, 1914. Serial No. 818,626.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HUGH. Gr. TAYLOR, citizen of the United States., residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful improvements in `Mechanical rloys; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to maire and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and'to the letters and lig ures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical toys, my object being to provide a useful device of this character, and in order to malte it more interesting l. have illustrated the same in such a manner as to represent the Panama Canal in miniature form.

The device as constructed is adapted for use as a paper weight.

It consists of two members whose adjacent faces are so fashioned as'to leave relatively large cavities therein, the said cavities being placed in communication with each other through the medium of a channel which is of irregular or tortuous shape, its general outline being made to conform, as far as practicable, to the Panama Canal. lVithin the cavities or the channel, either or both, small bodies are placed, the substance of which is of less specilic gravity than that of the liquid to be employed with the device. After placing these oatable bodies within the device, as just explained, the two parts are secured together hermetically, with the .exception of two openings located at the opposite extremities of the device. Through one of these openings water is introduced, while through the other the air escapes as the water enters. After the cavities and channel are completely filled with water, both openings are tightly plugged or corked, whereby the water is retained. As illustrated in the drawing, the two cavities lare supposed to represent the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceamand the connecting channel the Panama Canal, as heretofore intimated.

Assuming that there are two floatable bodies within the device, the solving of the puzzle or the object to be attained in manipulating the device, when considered as a toy, is to cause the floatable bodies to respectively occupy the two cavities at the same time.

ln order to facilitate this operation, the margins of the `cavities are irregularly formed, in imitation of the Atlantic and Pacific coast lines at the oppositeends of the canal. `These irregularities form .pockets within which the loatable bodies may be caught and detained by skillful manipulation of the device in such a manner as to attain the objectsought, as heretofore explained. ln order to cause the floatable bodies, which are supposed to represent boats, to move within the liquid filling the cavities and channel, the device is tilted to any position vbetween the horizontal and vertical, and under these circumstances it will be understood that the bodies, being of less specific gravity than the liquid,A will have a tendency to rise or move upwardly within the liquid by virtue of their buoyancy.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

ln this drawing-Figure l is a top plan view of -my improved device. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2-, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section, showing the upper member of the device in detail.v Fig. 4l is a similar view of the lower member. is a cross-section taken on the line 5;-5, Fig. l.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views. y

Let the numeral 5 designate the device in its entirety, the same being composed of a lower member 6 and an upper member 7, As shownk in the drawing, the upper 4surface of the lower member is provided with irregularities intended to represent a hilly or mountainous region similar -to, the Pan ama Zone on opposite sides of the canal. This irregular configuration is designated by the numeral S. The upper member, which is composed of transparent material, is of counterpart shape, whereby the irregularities of the lower member lit thereinto, as shown at 9. The adjacent surfaces of the two members, when assembled, are so formed as to leave relatively large cavities l0 and 12 at the opposite ends of the device, the same being placed in communication with each other by a channel 13 which is stepped upwardly from the cavities 10 and 12 to represent the locks at the opposite Fig. 5

ends of the Panama Canal. The upper member 7, being composed of transparent material, discloses in top plan view the irregular configuration 8 of the bottom me1nber, this irregular portion being painted or colored with this end in view. The bottoni member may for convenience also be formed of glass, though it is evident that this is not necessary.

lfiitbin the cavities or the connecting channel, small lioatable bodies 2li are placed, after 'which the two members of the device are assembled and sealed. rlfhe lower niember is provided with openings le and l5, through one of which the necessary liquid may be introduced for filling the c vities and channel of the device` llt is evident that by properly tilting or reversing the device, liquid may be introduced at one of th. openings .vliile the air escapes at the ot opening'. Alifter the device is filled with liquid, both openings are closed to pre if'ent leakage. The device is then ready for use, and may be enngloyed as heretofore eX- plained.

ln the central part of the device a relatively 1iride, shallow cavityr 15 is formed., extending on opposite sides of channel. 13. This shalloiv cavity is of such character that the floatable bodies are unable to enter it. This is intended to represent Gattin Lake, through which the Panama Canal passes. ils illustrated in the drawing, the loweil member of the device is recessed as shoivn at 17, to make room for a card or piece of fabric 18, upon. Which 'will be printed instructions for manipulating the device or specifying the object to be attained in solving the puzzle.

The plugs or closures for the openings l-l and l5 are designated by the numeral 19.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

l. As an improved article of manufacture, a block having tivo relatively large, suit ably separated, closed cavities, and a connecting" channel, the cavities and channel. being filled ivith liquid in Which are placed tloatable bodies of such size as to move in the channel and cavities as the block is manipulated.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a block having tivo relatively large cavities suitably spaced, the said cavities being closed and connected by a channel, the channel and cavities being filled with liquid, bodies floatable in the liquid and of such size to move in the channel and cavities, the block having openings for the introduction of liquid and the escape of air, and closures for the said openings.

l. As an improved article of manufacture, a block having relatively large, suitably spaced, closed cavities connected by a chan* nel, the channel and cavities containing iid, in Awhich are located floatable bodies of such size as to be movable therein, the block heilig fashioned to give the cavities irregular margins.

el. is an ii'nproved article of manufacture a block having relatively large, suitably spaced, closed cavities connected by a chanel, the channel and cavities containing liquid, in which are located floatable bodies of' such size to be movable therein, the block lieing fashioned to forni pockets at the margins of the cavities to receive the floatable bodies, for the purpose set forth.

its an improved' article of manufacture, a block having relatively large, hermetically sealed cavities suitably spaced and filled with liquid, the 'block having a `channel connecting the cavities which is also filled with liquid, ioatable bodies ylocated Within the channel and cavities and adapted to move freely by virtue 'of their buoyancy, the portion of the block above the channel and cavities being transparent, for the purpose set forth.

6. as an improved article of manufacture,y`

a block having relatively large cavities connected by a tortuous channel, the channel and cavities being filled Withliquid and containing floatable bodies, the upper part of the' b'loclr beingtransparent, substantially as'describe'd.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HUGH Gr. TAYlLQR. llitnesses:

lil- Enviar (DBRInN, LENA DILLMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o Patents,

Washington Vl). C. 

